Washington Times: This is how artificial intelligence and drones changed the rules of war in Ukraine?
The Washington Times discussed the development of the high-tech aspect in the Ukrainian battlefield, where drones and artificial intelligence have become a crucial element in the ongoing war with Russia, with semi-autonomous systems being used to detect targets and carry out strikes.
Drones have become capable of analyzing field scenes through advanced algorithms, which allows for the classification of targets such as tanks, trenches and roads in record time, according to statements by Yaroslav Honchar, founder of the Aerorozvidka group.
Honchar emphasized that intelligence tasks that previously required 40 hours of analysis now take only a few seconds, thanks to automated classification tools capable of identifying targets with an accuracy rate of between 80% and 100%, depending on the field conditions.
However, he warned of the consequences of soldiers becoming accustomed to using artificial intelligence, and the impact this has on the deterioration of their analytical skills and combat experience.
In this regard, Washington Times’ correspondent in Ukraine, Guillaume Ptak, believes that the real revolution brought about by artificial intelligence in the Ukrainian war isn’t the development of new combat machines, but rather the unprecedented acceleration of military operations.
He explained that instead of relying on remote center vision models, Ukrainian experts transferred computer vision models from remote servers to the drones themselves.
From Yaroslav Honchar prospective, data from hundreds of drones is compiled into the Delta command and control network, which relies on real-time video, coordinates, and data streams.
Within seconds, the systems identify targets, quickly verify them, and then transmit the coordinates directly to artillery units to carry out the strike.
The Ukrainian company Twist Robotics, which manufactures the “Seeker Scout” reconnaissance drone, stressed that artificial intelligence plays the role of “assistant, not leader,” emphasizing that the final decision to carry out the strike always rests with humans, while the role of drones is limited to gathering information.
The Washington Times focused on a unique innovation in Ukraine based on a point system similar to video games to motivate drone units, where the state gives rewards to units based on confirmed targets and destroyed equipment, in exchange for points that are directly redeemed for new military equipment.
The Washington Times quoted the points table, which was first revealed last May, as follows:
- 6 points for each targeted soldier;
- 20 points for each damaged tank;
- 40 points for each tank destroyed;
- 50 points to destroy missile platforms.
Strike footage is uploaded to the Delta network, where it is reviewed by AI-powered teams at the Department of Defense before points are awarded.
This system has accelerated military procurement through the government’s Brave-1 platform, with contracts now being completed in two weeks instead of months, according to the Washington Times.
Government data indicates that Ukrainian drone forces reported in September that more than 18,000 Russian soldiers had been documented as targeted, double the number compared to the previous year.
While military leaders assert that the incentives have created disciplined competition that enhances performance, the report continues, many experts have expressed concern about the ethics of the new war.
Law scholars Chad Byrd and Michele Lokomsky of the Lieber Institute of Law and War expressed concern about the transformation of killing into a reward game, where the desire to score points outweighs self-control, according to the Washington Times.
They said that the system should enhance leadership oversight and legal review, not replace them.
An unnamed Ukrainian soldier told the Washington Times that the points system might sometimes change soldiers’ strategies, so that they prioritize targets that give the most points, but he noted that Russian numerical superiority necessitates hitting all possible targets indiscriminately.
Legal expert Claudia Klonovska of the Asser Institute in The Hague also confirmed that drones can become semi-autonomous if they are jammed, further complicating the question of whether humans are truly in control of the machine, according to the report.
